Origin
Ottawa, IL
Morning in Ottawa on Sunday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ottawa, IL to Joliet, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
44.7 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ottawa, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Joliet, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Ottawa to Joliet, you are in for a quick 44.7-mile journey that typically takes about 48 minutes. This short trip stays entirely within the Illinois Midwest, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Lincoln Place, Columbus Street, and East Main Street rather than hopping on a major interstate. With a fuel budget of just $7, it is an incredibly economical route to manage. Because the drive is straightforward and brief, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around whatever tasks or visits you have waiting for you in Joliet.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 38.3 mi | 41m |
| US 6 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North 2753rd Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Green Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Jefferson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Center Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hickory Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 38.3 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ottawa, IL and Joliet, IL.
1
Start on IL 23; IL 71
103 ft
·
4 sec
·
La Salle Street
2
Turn slight left onto Lincoln Place
450 ft
·
24 sec
·
Lincoln Place
3
Turn left onto IL 23; IL 71
223 ft
·
10 sec
·
Columbus Street
4
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
5
Turn slight left onto Green Street
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Green Street
6
Continue on North 2753rd Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2753rd Road
7
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
8
Turn right onto US 6; IL 71
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
US 6; IL 71
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
10
Merge onto I 80
38 mi
·
41 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 131
Toward Center Street
12
Continue on South Center Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Center Street
13
Continue on Hickory Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Hickory Street
14
Turn right onto US 30
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Jefferson Street
15
Turn left onto Joliet Street
174 ft
·
6 sec
·
Joliet Street
16
Turn right
272 ft
·
19 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 miles from Ottawa, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 43 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 23; IL 71 / Columbus Street
Turn left onto IL 23; IL 71 / Columbus Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Main Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 East: Joliet
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 East: Joliet
5
4.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
43 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Center Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 131
Toward Center Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.99 one way
$13.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.67 | $15.35 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.60 | $17.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.87 | $19.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Joliet, IL
Morning in Joliet on Sunday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
54m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway driving. You will spend your time navigating through local streets, meaning you should be prepared for frequent adjustments behind the wheel. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on Lincoln Place, the road keeps you engaged with consistent turns and transitions. This is a practical, functional drive that requires your full attention to navigate the local road network effectively. It lacks the monotony of long highway miles, offering a more hands-on experience as you move from Ottawa to your destination.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.3 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 6. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 23; IL 71 / Columbus Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 23; IL 71 / Columbus Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
737 ft
483 ft
Total Climb
354 ft
Total Descent
296 ft
Highest Point
737 ft
~9.6 mi in
Elevation Range
254 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Ottawa, IL
Full guide →Ottawa is one of many towns in the Illinois River Valley of Northern Illinois.
Arriving in Joliet, IL
Full guide →Founded 1833
Joliet is a city in the Chicagoland region of Illinois, a state in the Midwest of the United States of America. It is the largest city and county seat of Will County.
Top landmarks
- • Joliet Union Station — former train station in the United States
- • Christ Episcopal Church — church building in Joliet, Illinois, United States of America
- • Joliet Central High School — public school in Joliet, Illinois
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 44.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.3 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 23; IL 71 / Columbus Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Joliet, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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